Strong electoral reform is built not only in legislative chambers, but also through the active participation of citizens whose voices shape the democratic future of their country.

Recognizing the vital role of civil society in strengthening democratic governance, 17 civil society organizations gathered in Monrovia on Wednesday, 30 September for a one-day Dialogue for Inclusive Electoral Reform and Civil Society Advocacy. 

The dialogue provided a platform for participants to deepen their understanding of key electoral reform issues, identify advocacy priorities, and strengthen their collective engagement in Liberia's ongoing electoral reform process.

The engagement was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and the UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) under the Liberia Electoral Support Project, with support from the European Union, Irish Aid and Sweden.

Opening the dialogue, Oscar Bloh, Country Director of NIMD, reflected on the lessons emerging from Liberia's 2023 General Elections and the numerous recommendations produced by national and international election observer groups.

He noted that while several institutions have developed proposals for electoral reform, there is a risk that the process may become fragmented without sustained engagement from the civil society.

He encouraged organizations to transform their recommendations into coordinated advocacy that contributes constructively to national reform efforts. 

“Let me urge all participants to organize now and develop common positions so that citizens' voices will shape the country's evolving electoral framework,” Bloh stressed.

European Union Delegation Policy Officer, Maria Winnubst reaffirmed the EU's longstanding commitment to supporting democratic governance and electoral integrity in Liberia.

Reflecting on the findings of the European Union Election Observation Mission following the 2023 elections, Winnubst encouraged civil society organizations to carefully examine the mission's recommendations alongside those of other observation groups and regional organizations.

She emphasized that electoral reform does not begin and end with elections. “Democracy is something we build together over time,” she noted, calling on participants to sustain dialogue and engagement with communities, policymakers, and institutions so that reforms remain responsive to citizens’ needs and aspirations.

Delivering remarks on behalf of UNDP, Stanley Kamara, Team Lead of the Inclusive Governance Pillar, challenged participants to view electoral reform as a continuous democratic process rather than an activity that begins only months before elections.

"Electoral reform is not about preparing for the next election," he said. "It is about preparing Liberia for the next generation of democracy."

Kamara suggested that reforms of Liberia’s electoral laws should be evidence-driven, inclusive and designed to strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.

Above all, he reminded participants that civil society organizations should not simply observe reform but help shape it by bringing community perspectives into national policy discussions, promoting civic education and supporting constructive dialogue.

Throughout the day, participants examined key electoral reform priorities, including women's political participation, temporary special measures, the independence of electoral administration, constituency boundary delimitation and seat apportionment. 

Interactive discussions enabled civil society organizations to identify shared advocacy priorities and explore practical strategies for engaging national stakeholders as Liberia's electoral reform process advances.

The dialogue reinforced an important message: sustainable electoral reform requires informed, coordinated and sustained citizen engagement.

Through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, UNDP, together with UN Women, NIMD and with support from the European Union, Irish Aid and Sweden, continues to work alongside national institutions and civil society to strengthen electoral governance, promote inclusive participation and reinforce democratic resilience.

As Liberia prepares for future elections, the dialogue demonstrated that the country's democratic future will be shaped not only by the outcome of elections, but also by the quality of the conversations, partnerships and reforms that take place between them.